Restore? Hell, just put new brake lines, fuel line, tires and engine belts on that thing and let 'er rip. Oh and change the oil, maybe. Every old International I've dealt with was a rusty-ass tank. Pulled one truck out from behind a barn under its own power after it had been sitting for 20 years. I love those old hulks.

SirEattonHogg:Is it a good book? I keep hearing about it. It's a bit before my time.

It's a bit looser than most of Wolfe's non-fiction work (which you would expect considering the subject matter -i.e. following a bunch of tripping hippies around the country in a bus and chronicling their adventures) and there's a definite resemblance to some of Hunter Thompson's late 60's stuff (it came out when Hells Angels was still pretty new in everyone's mind so there's bound to be some influence). I think if you're interested in the period and that sub-culture it's absolutely required reading.

wiseolddude:Too bad acid hasn't been any good since the late 70's. When it from clear light to blotter, the quality went down.

Back before Owsley had the ability to measure the dose accurately, he used to aim for 400 mcg, which is about equal to 10 hits of goofy blotter, but he would never get closer than 50% either way, so some times it would be okay and some times it would blow your head off.

The quality went down as soon as the laws against it were passed, but before it was illegal it was almost impossible to obtain.

Snapper Carr:SirEattonHogg:Is it a good book? I keep hearing about it. It's a bit before my time.

It's a bit looser than most of Wolfe's non-fiction work (which you would expect considering the subject matter -i.e. following a bunch of tripping hippies around the country in a bus and chronicling their adventures) and there's a definite resemblance to some of Hunter Thompson's late 60's stuff (it came out when Hells Angels was still pretty new in everyone's mind so there's bound to be some influence). I think if you're interested in the period and that sub-culture it's absolutely required reading.

Thanks. I liked reading The Right Stuff and Bonfire of the Vanities. But that's obviously very different material. Subculture is fine, but I didn't like "On the Road" much, which I'm wondering if is going to be similar. OTOH, I liked Hells Angels. Eh, I'll have a look.

The first time that my sister, two brothers and I were all in the same place at the same time, we were driving through Yreka California, looking for an open bar, and were driving down Main Street, and my sister says, "Hey look at the funny bus!" I yelled out "Hey, that's Furthur!" We whipped a U-turn, and followed it to a motel, where we greeted Ken Kesey, and his friend. They had just driven up from San Francisco, where they had picked up the bus on its return from a tour of England. They allowed us to tour the bus, but turned down our offer to show them around our hometown, as they had to hit the road early the next morning. I still have the pics, and a fond memory.

with that said, I wouldn't mind a hit or two to clear the cobwebs out of the noggin. been over a decade worth of junk just accumulatin' up there

I was actually expecting more comments like this by now. eeh.. its still early.

given the subject matter, and who it would appeal to, I don't think they'll have any problems raising the capital to do the resturation, but I wonder if they have even gotten and estimation of restoration yet? if its been sitting out there in a swamp, in oregon, it is NOT going to be in very good shape at all.

Most of the time aging hippy boomers and their burnout progeny do annoy me, but, I do think that this is a cultural artifact worth preserving. Kinda like Auschwitz, those that forget the past are doomed to repeat it kind of stuff. dig?

Ha. That's the bus I recall for my generation (well atleast in reruns in the early 80's). Forget about finding yourself, travelling America and taking mind expanding drugs. It's a fake band made up by scriptwriters and ABC suits, marketed for the teenybopper market.

I guess in a vague sense, it must have made an impression for my generation.